Method of treating bone metastasis diseases, medicaments therefore, and a method of predicting the clinical outcome of treating bone metastasis diseases

ABSTRACT

A method is used for treating bone metastasis diseases in subjects. The method preferably depends on whether the subject shows certain specific proteins levels in one or more body fluids prior to or during treatment. The treatment includes the administration of at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor to a subject, a medicament for use in said new methods, and a method of predicting the outcome of a treatment with at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor based on the specific protein levels in one or more body fluids of the subject.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/518,174, filed on Jul. 22, 2019, which was a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/511,959, filed on Mar. 16, 2017, which was theNational Stage entry under § 371 of International Application No.PCT/EP2015/001701, filed on Aug. 18, 2015, and which claims the benefitof U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/051,525, filed on Sep. 17, 2014.The content of each of these applications is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

The present application is accompanied by an ASCII text file as acomputer readable form containing the sequence listing entitled,“000784USCONT02_SL_ST25.txt”, created on May 20, 2022, with a file sizeof 98,146 bytes, the content of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The instant invention provides for a new method of treating bonemetastasis diseases in subjects, wherein said method preferably dependson whether the subject shows certain specific proteins levels in one ormore body fluids prior to or during treatment, wherein said treatmentcomprises the administration of at least one pan αv integrin inhibitorto a subject, a medicament for use in said new methods, and a method ofpredicting the outcome of a treatment with at least one pan αv integrininhibitor based on said specific protein levels in one or more bodyfluids of the subject.

More specifically, the instant invention provides for a new method oftreating of treating bone metastasis diseases, preferably bonemetastasis disease is derived from prostate cancer, breast cancer and/orcancer in subjects with at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor,preferably including the pan αv integrin inhibitor abituzumab orIntetumumab, wherein said subjects show certain specific protein levelsin one or more body fluids prior to or during treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Bone metastases, or metastatic bone disease, is a class of cancermetastases that results from primary tumor invasion to bone. Bone is oneof the most common locations for metastasis. [Coleman R E (October2006). “Clinical features of metastatic bone disease and risk ofskeletal morbidity”. Clin. Cancer Res. 12 (20 Pt 2): 6243s-9s.] Whileany type of cancer is capable of forming metastatic tumors within bone,the microenvironment of the marrow tends to favor particular types ofcancer, including prostate, breast, and lung cancers. [Guise T (October2010). “Examining the metastatic niche: targeting the microenvironment”.Semin. Oncol. 37 (Suppl 2): S2-14.] Particularly in prostate cancer,bone metastases tend to be the only site of metastasis. [Jimenez-AndradeJ M, Mantyh W G, Bloom A P, Ferng A S, Geffre C P, Mantyh P W (June2010). “Bone cancer pain”. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences1198: 173-81.]

Lung cancer, also known as carcinoma of the lung or pulmonary carcinoma,is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth intissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyondthe lung by process of metastasis into nearby tissue or other parts ofthe body, including the liver, brain and bone. Most cancers that startin the lung, known as primary lung cancers, are carcinomas that derivefrom epithelial cells. The main primary types are small-cell lungcarcinoma (SCLC), and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is any type of epithelial lungcancer other than small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). As a class, NSCLCsand metastases thereof are relatively insensitive to chemotherapy,compared to small cell carcinoma. A wide variety of chemotherapies areused in metastatic NSCLC, unfortunately with little effect to date.Small-cell carcinoma or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a type ofhighly malignant cancer that most commonly arises within the lung,although it can occasionally arise in other body sites, such as thecervix, prostate, and gastrointesinal tract. SCLC usually metastasizeswidely very early on in the natural history of the tumor. Also in thiscase, the metastasis affects predominantely the bone, liver and brain.

Breast cancer develops from breast tissue. It most commonly develops incells from the lining of milk ducts and the lobules that supply theducts with milk. Cancers developing from the ducts are known as ductalcarcinomas, while those developing from lobules are known as lobularcarcinomas. In addition, there are more than 18 other sub-types ofbreast cancer. The diagnosis of breast cancer is regularily confirmed bytaking a biopsy of the concerning lump. Once the diagnosis is made,further tests are done to determine if the cancer has spread beyond thebreast and which treatments it may respond to. If the cancer has spreadbeyond the breast, the breast cancer presents as metastatic disease. Thesymptoms caused by metastatic breast cancer will depend on the locationof metastasis. Common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung andbrain.

The metastatic process is a multistep event and represents the mostdreadful aspect of cancer. At the moment of diagnosis, cancers arefrequently far advanced in their natural history, and the presence ofmetastases is a common event. In fact, approximately 30% of patientshave detectable metastases at the moment of clinical diagnosis and afurther 30% of patients have occult metastases. Metastases can bedisseminated and they can infest different organs at the same time, orlocalize to a specific organ. In the case of localized disease, surgeryis the treatment of choice; however recurrence and prognosis depend onmany criteria such as: resectability, patient's clinical situation, andnumber of metastases. After resection, recurrence is common, suggestingthat micrometastatic foci are present at the moment of diagnosis.Systemic chemotherapy is an ideal setting but only few patients arecured by it, and in the majority systemic chemotherapy fails. Manyphysiological barriers and pharmacokinetic parameters contribute todecrease its efficacy.

Liver, lungs and lymph nodes are filtration organs and thereforeinclined to metastasization. The poor chemosensitivity of metastases,peculiarly those of colorectal origin has forced many researchers to usemethods for increasing the time and the concentration of drugs. The needfor decreasing or limiting the side effects for this important anddelicate organ led to the development of the technique of liverisolation for perfusion of antineoplastic agents. (K. R. Aigner,Isolated liver perfusion. In: Morris D L, McArdle C S, Onik G M, eds.Hepatic Metastases. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann, 1996. 101-107). Since1981, modifications and technical improvements have been continuouslyintroduced. Liver metastases may be of different origin and theirchemosensitivity may vary according to the histological type and theirresponse in presence of heat.

There still exists a growing need in the art in order to develop newtherapeutic strategies for treating cancer, especially metastases,systemically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention therefore was to develop such a newstrategy. It should be applicable to systemic treatment, and it shouldlower the dose and/or increase the efficiency of the cancertherapeutical agents to be applied. A further object was to normalizetumor vasculature to increase delivery of systemic therapeutics oftumor, i.e. to reset the tumor vasculature to the functionality of thevasculature of non-tumor tissue.

Thus, it is a preferred objective of the instant invention to provide amore effective, better tolerated treatment for humans, especially humancancer patients suffering from bone metastases, preferably bonemetastases independent from their origin, thus preferably leading toenhanced overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), qualityof life (QOL) and/or increased median survival.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer aside skin cancerin the US, and is the second most common cause of male cancer deaths.Prostate cancer is classified in four stages: Stage I prostate cancer isfound in the prostate only and cannot be felt during a digital rectalexam nor is it visible by imaging. In stage II prostate cancer, thetumor has grown inside the prostate but has not extended beyond it,whereas in stage III, the cancer has spread outside the prostate, but toa minimal extent only. Often, prostate cancer in stage III will havespread only to nearby tissues, such as the seminal vesicles. Finally, instage IV, the cancer has spread outside the prostate to other tissues,such as the lymph nodes, bones, liver, and/or lungs or brain.

The spectrum of prostate cancers that are progressing despite castratelevels of testosterone includes tumors that have shown varying degreesand durations of response to primary hormone treatment, and clinicalmanifestations that range from a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA)alone, a rising PSA with osseous and/or soft-tissue spread, or apredominantly visceral disease pattern.

Currently approved treatment of prostrate cancer includes surgicalcastration, chemical castration, or a combination of surgical andchemical castration. Removal of the testes, the primary testosteroneproducing organ, reduces the levels of circulating androgens, to lessthan 5% of normal levels. This reduction in androgen levels inhibitsprostate tumor growth. Although the anti-tumor effects of surgicalcastration are direct, the anti-tumor effects can be temporary. Surgicalcastration often leads to clonal selection of androgen-independentprostate tumor cells. This results in re-growth of the prostate tumor ina form that proliferates without testosterone or DHT Stimulation.Chemical castration (also called medical castration) is oftensubstituted for surgical castration, as an initial treatment. Despiteits high prevalence, treatment options for men having prostate cancerremain relatively limited and typically depend on the stage of thecancer.

Treatment options include surgical treatments such as radicalprostatectomy, in which the prostate is completely removed andradiation, applied through an external beam that directs the dose to theprostate from outside the body or via low-dose radioactive seeds thatare implanted within the prostate to kill cancer cells locally.Anti-androgen hormone therapy also is used in the treatment of prostatecancer, either alone or in conjunction with surgery or radiation.Hormone therapy typically aims at blocking the pituitary from producinghormones that stimulate testosterone production by use of castration oradministration of hormone analogs and requires that patients haveinjections of these hormone analogs for protracted periods. Finally,chemotherapeutic approaches have been used to treat advanced prostatecancer, usually as a last resort when other approaches have failed.Since a couple of years, the combination of docetaxel and prednisone wasestablished as the new standard of care for patients who have progressedon androgen deprivation.

None of the treatments described above are curative and prostate cancerbeing androgen dependent at first, often will progress despite surgicaland hormonal-based therapies, and become resistant over time, leading toa cancer type which is called “hormone refractory cancer” or “castrationresistant cancer” (CRPC).

Clinical disease manifestations of CRPC are commonly related to bonemetastases and may include pain, pathologic fractures, and spinal cordcompression, with local recurrences that may be associated with pelvicdiscomfort, renal dysfunction due to ureteral compression, bladderoutlet obstruction, and sexual dysfunction. Further, while bone canceris the predominant result of CRPC, patients may develop soft-tissuemetastases (lymph node(s)) and visceral metastasis in liver, lung,brain, and other organs. Patients with CRPC are minimally responsive tochemotherapy and the majority of patients die due to progressiveprostate cancer within 20 months of initiating treatment.Bisphosphonates are commonly used in patients with castrate-resistantprostate cancer who have bone metastases.

It has been shown that prostate tumors remain dormant and clinicallyundetectable until they begin to secrete angiogenic factors anddown-regulate the expression of angiogenic inhibitors. In general, itcan be stated that angiogenesis is critical to the genesis of prostatetumors. Therefore, it was not completely surprising that anti-angiogenicagents may inhibit prostate cancer cell growth.

In prostate cancer, tumor cells express an abnormal integrin repertoireand are surrounded by a markedly aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM).These changes have profound consequences, given the ability of eachintegrin to regulate specific cell functions. Expression of β3 and β1subunits activates specific signaling pathways and support distinctcancer cell functions. β3 is uniquely required in cancer cells forincreasing cdc2 levels as well as cdc2 kinase activity. These effectsare specific for β3 and are not observed for β6. Up-regulation of β3 andβ6 integrin variants has been described. Zheng et al. (Cancer Research1999; 59, 1655-1664) used human prostate cancer cells isolated fromsixteen surgical specimens, to show that these cells express αvβ3,whereas normal prostate epithelial cells do not. Similarly, αvβ6 wasfound to be expressed in adenocarcinoma (Azare et al.; Molecular andCellular Biology 2007; 27, 4444).

The use of integrin inhibitors is likely to affect both cancer cellsurvival and angiogenesis since integrins are expressed by tumor cellsas well as by endothelial cells. Although it is hard to discriminatebetween an effect on tumor growth and an effect on angiogenesis, amaximal response of these inhibitors can be predicted when the targetedintegrin is expressed by both tumor and endothelial cells.

Bone is the most frequent metastatic site for prostate cancer. Bisanz etal. (Molecular Therapy 2005; 12, 634-643) illustrate a positive role foralpha-v integrins on prostate tumor survival in the bone. Analysis ofhuman prostate cancer bone xenografts shows that intratumoraladministration of liposome encapsulated human alpha-v siRNAssignificantly inhibits the growth of PC3 tumors in bone and increasesapoptosis of prostate tumor cells. Further studies (McCabe et al.,Oncogene 2007; 26, 6238-6243) demonstrate that αvβ3 integrin activationon tumor cells is essential for the recognition of key bone specificmatrix proteins. These data suggest that the αvβ3 integrin modulatesprostate cancer growth in distant metastasis.

Since integrins mediate the interactions between tumor cells and bonemicroenvironment and facilitate growth in bone, a potential applicationof the use of integrin inhibitors is to prevent prostate cancer bonelesions. These lesions are osteoblastic and/or osteolytic and arefrequently detected in prostate cancer patients (over 80% of prostatecancer patients have established bone metastasis at autopsy).

A recent study has shown that the αvβ3 integrin promotes bone gainmediated by prostate cancer cells that metastasize to the bone and pointto αvβ3 as a potential therapeutic target to block prostate cancerosteoblastic lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis has demonstrated thepresence of αv integrin in a large proportion of human prostate cancertissues samples. These and other results suggest that anti-integrinagents may have both direct and indirect antitumor activity. But thereare only few clinical trials reporting that peptide or non-peptideintegrin inhibitors are effective agents in prostate cancer therapy.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a method of treatment of bonemetastases, preferably bone metastases of breast cancer, lung cancerand/or prostate cancer. Moreover, there is a especially high need toprovide a method for the treatment of prostate cancer bone metatases,especially castration-resistant prostate cancer bone metastases.

Therefore, there is a also a need to provide a method of treatment ofbone metastases from metastatic androgen independent prostate cancer(mAIPCa) and/or bone metastases from metastatic androgen dependentprostate cancer (mADPCa).

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method foridentifying bone metastasis in a subject, preferably a human subject,that is susceptible to treatment with at least one pan αv integrininhibitor, preferably Abituzumab, comprising determining said certainproteins levels in one or more body fluids, whereby a high level of oneor more proteins selected from a first group of said specific proteinsand/or a low level of one or more proteins from a second group of saidspecific proteins indicates the tumor is susceptible to said treatment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of MAPK11for EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 2 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of MAPK11.

FIG. 3 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of STX1Afor EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 4 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of STX1A.

FIG. 5 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of MAP2K2for EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 6 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of MAP2K2.

FIG. 7 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions ofTNFRSF17 for EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 8 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of TNFRSF17.

FIG. 9 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of RGMBfor EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 10 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of RGMB.

FIG. 11 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of LEPRfor EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 12 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of LEPR.

FIG. 13 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of IL1Bfor EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 14 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of IL1B.

FIG. 15 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of ICAM3for EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 16 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of ICAM3.

FIG. 17 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of F5for EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 18 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of F5.

FIG. 19 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of ANGfor EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 20 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of ANG.

FIG. 21 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of PIGRfor EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 22 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of PIGR.

FIG. 23 displays rPFS of patients with high and low expressions of TEKfor EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treated patients.

FIG. 24 displays rPFS of EMD 525797-treated patients and placebo-treatedpatients for high and low expressions of TEK.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Body fluids are preferably the liquids originating from inside thebodies of living subjects, preferably living human subjects. Theyinclude fluids that are excreted or secreted from the body as well asbody water that normally is not excreted or secreted.

The body fluids can preferably specified by type, such as intracellularfluids, extracellular fluids, intravascular fluids (e.g. whole blood,blood and blood plasma), interstitial fluids, lymphatic fluids(sometimes regarded as a subtype of interstitial fluids), andtranscellular fluids.

Preferred body fluids are selected from the group consisting of wholeblood (preferably also referred to as “blood”), blood serum (preferablyalso referred to as “serum”), blood plasma (preferably also referred toas “plasma”), exudate, lymph, mucus, peritoneal fluid, saliva, sputum,tears and urine. Especially preferred body fluids are selected from thegroup consisting of Preferred body fluids are selected from the groupconsisting of whole blood (preferably also referred to as “blood”),blood serum (preferably also referred to as “serum”), and blood plasma(preferably also referred to as “plasma”). Especially preferred is bloodplasma (preferably also referred to as “plasma”). Alternativelypreferred is blood serum (preferably also referred to as “serum”), andwhole blood (preferably also referred to as “blood”).

The threshold for categorization of patients into “low level” or “highlevel” for each of said specific proteins is preferably determined bylisting of all available levels for that respective specific protein inthe respective body fluid, then determining the median from this listingof said specific protein level values in said body fluid, and takingthis median value as the threshold.

This threshold is preferably also referred to herein as medianthreshold. Preferably, said threshold or median threshold is determinedin the population of subjects suffering from the respective bonemetastasis disease as described herein. More preferably, said thresholdor median threshold for the respective specific protein is determinedfrom the body fluid of a plurality of subjects being part of a diseasedsubject population suffering from the respective bone metastasisdisease.

For example, for determining said median threshold for one or more saidspecific proteins, body fluid samples (here: blood samples) are takenfrom 150 human subjects suffering from metastatic castrate-resistantprostate cancer (mCRPC) in order to obtain about 500 μL offer apreferred body fluid (here: blood plasma). The levels of the containedspecific proteins of interest, e.g. STX1A are determined using anaptamer based protein detection system, e.g. the SomaLogic ProteomicAffinity Assay Method described in detail in the Experimental Section,whereby results for each protein of interest are represented by relativefluorescence readouts reported by the detection system. In an optionalnext step, the obtained raw data set can be simplified by removing thedata of proteins not of interest, e.g. proteins that are known to bederived or affected by inadequate sample handling during plasma protein,such as platelet activation or cell lysis which may occur during theplasma preparation process. The thus obtained data set is thenpreferably subjected to steps such as data normalization procedures inorder to obtain robust signals of the proteins of interest and estimatesof the median protein levels across the study population of patients.Preferably, this data analysis process includes a cut-of optimisation.This procedure thus provides a median threshold of one or more specificproteins of interest, e.g. the median threshold for the protein STX1A.Taking this obtained median threshold, both said 150 human subjectssuffering from metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), aswell as future human subjects suffering from mCRPC, can then be readilycharacterised as having a high level or a low level, respectively, ofone or more specific proteins of interest, e.g. STX1A, with thepredicted specific impact on the clinical outcome of the treatment withat least one pan αv integrin inhibitor, optionally in combination withone or more chemotherapeutic agents.

Preferably, the body fluid sampling and/or the evaluation of the medianvalue for the respective specific protein is performed prior totreatment of the respective bone metastasis disease with said at leastone pan αv integrin inhibitor. Preferably, patients are classified as“high level” if their respective specific protein level in said bodyfluid is higher than the median threshold. Accordingly, patients arepreferably classified as “low level” if their respective specificprotein level in said body fluid is lower than or equal to said medianthreshold.

More preferably, the threshold for categorization of patients into “lowlevel” or “high level” for each of said specific proteins is preferablydetermined by listing of all available levels for that respectivespecific protein in the blood plasma, then determining the median fromthis listing of said specific protein level values in said blood plasma,and taking this median value as the threshold. This threshold ispreferably also referred to herein as median threshold. Preferably, theblood plasma sampling and/or the evaluation of the median value for therespective specific protein is performed prior to treatment of therespective bone metastasis disease with said at least one pan αvintegrin inhibitor. Preferably, patients are classified as “high level”if their respective specific protein level in said blood plasma ishigher than the median threshold. Accordingly, patients are preferablyclassified as “low level” if their respective specific protein level insaid blood plasma is lower than or equal to said median threshold.Preferably, the respective bone metastasis disease in this regard ismetastatic prostate cancer, more preferably metastaticcastration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Preferably, the at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor comprisesAbituzumab or Intetumumab). More preferably, the at least one pan αvintegrin inhibitor is Abituzumab or Intetumumab. Especially preferred,the at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor is Abituzumab.

More preferably, the threshold for categorization of patients into “lowlevel” or “high level” for each of said specific proteins is preferablydetermined by listing of all available levels for that respectivespecific protein in the blood plasma, then determining the median fromthis listing of said specific protein level values in said blood plasma,and taking this median value as the threshold. This threshold ispreferably also referred to herein as median threshold. Preferably, theblood plasma sampling and/or the evaluation of the median value for therespective specific protein is performed prior to treatment of therespective bone metastasis disease with said at least one pan αvintegrin inhibitor. Preferably, patients are classified as “high level”if their respective specific protein level in said blood plasma ishigher than the median threshold. Accordingly, patients are preferablyclassified as “low level” if their respective specific protein level insaid blood plasma is lower than or equal to said median threshold.Preferably, the respective bone metastasis disease in this regard ismetastatic prostate cancer, more preferably metastaticcastration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Preferably, the at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor comprisesAbituzumab or Intetumumab). More preferably, the at least one pan αvintegrin inhibitor is Abituzumab or Intetumumab. Especially preferred,the at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor is Abituzumab.

Methods to determine said threshold level and especially said medianthreshold level are known in the art. Examples of suitable technologiesinclude, but are not limited to the SomaLogic technology, preferably theSomaLogic Proteomic Affinity Assay technology, SomaLogicSOMAscan™/V3/Version 10.5.1.1, ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immuno-SorbentAssays) technologies and variants thereof, including the RIA (RadioImmuno Assay) technology as high sensitivity variant, the 2DSDS-Polyacryamid electrophorese (SDS-PAGE) Mass Spectrometry technology,and Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) technologies.

More specifically, the threshold for classification of patients into the‘high’ and ‘low’ groups on the basis of plasma levels of the mentionedproteins is preferably the median plasma level across the patientpopulation. The threshold may show a slight, but irrelevant dependencyfrom the actual technology employed.

Preferably, protein plasma levels of samples that are to be classifiedare measured using the SomaLogic technology, preferably the SomaLogicProteomic Affinity Assay technology (Somalogic, Inc., 2945 WildernessPI, Boulder, CO 80301, USA, software package and version number asdescribed herein) as described herein. The median plasma levels that areaccordingly identified can be used as threshold for classification into‘low’ and ‘high’ categories, preferably after the new SomaLogic patientprofile is processed with data normalization steps, such as it has beenperformed in the analysis described herein. For example, the patient'spre-treatment proteomic profiles on 888 plasma protein levels—as it isprepared by the SomaLogic system—can advantageously be combined withexisting pre-treatment data set for all samples, variance stabilzationas implemented in the vsn2 package which was applied. Finally, thenormalized patient's pre-treatment level for the specific protein ofinterest (median thresholds for predicitivity for radiologic PFS-MAPK11:9.46, STX1A: 9.06, MAP2K2: 11.9, TNFRSF17: 12.5, RGMB: 11.0, LEPR:11.2,IL1B:11.1, ICAM3:10.4, F5:15.7, ANG:12.5, PIGR:12.6, TEK:11.3; allmedian thresholds are given as protein level units on a log 2 scale asmeasured by Somalogic technology and after variance-stabilizingnormalization of the data set) as received from the clinical studydescribed herein (PERSEUS study). In case no prior data set isavailable, or the technology to measure the plasma protein levels is notthe SomaLogic technology, the median population plasma level—as it comesfrom the new technology or the new patient population (that preferablycomprises at least 120 patients for the respective indication) ispreferably termined first, then classification can be readily done onthe basis of the new population median.

Especially preferably, patients are classified as “high level” if theirrespective specific protein level in said blood plasma is at least 2%higher, more preferably at least 5% higher, even more preferably atleast 10% higher and especially at least 25% higher than said medianthreshold for the respective specific protein.

Especially preferably, patients are classified as “low level” if theirrespective specific protein level in said blood plasma is at least 2%lower, more preferably at least 5% lower, even more preferably at least10% lower and especially at least 25% lower than said median thresholdfor the respective specific protein.

Preferably, said specific proteins according to the invention comprise

-   -   a) one or more proteins, selected from the group consisting of    -   DCN (Somamer ID: SL004081; UniProt ID: P07585),    -   F5 (Somamer ID: SL000622; UniProt ID: P12259),    -   ICAM3 (Somamer ID: SL003178; UniProt ID: P32942),    -   PIGR (Somamer ID: SL005797; UniProt ID: P01833),    -   STK17B (Somamer ID: SL016566; UniProt ID: 094768),    -   STX1A (Somamer ID: SL004304; UniProt ID: Q16623), and    -   TEK (Somamer ID: SL003200; UniProt ID: Q02763),    -   and/or    -   b) one or more proteins, selected from the group consisting of    -   ANG (Somamer ID: SL000003; UniProt ID: P03950),    -   IL1B (Somamer ID: SL001795; UniProt ID: P01584),    -   LEPR (Somamer ID: SL003184; UniProt ID: P48357),    -   MAP2K2 (Somamer ID: SL010501; UniProt ID: P36507),    -   MAPK11 (Somamer ID: SL007453; UniProt ID: Q15759),    -   RGMB (Somamer ID: SL010468; UniProt ID: Q6NW40), and    -   TNFRSF17 (Somamer ID: SL004672; UniProt ID: Q02223)    -   and/or preferably also proteins having at least 80%, more        preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95% and        especially at least 99% sequence homology to said specific        proteins.

More preferably, said specific proteins according to the inventioncomprise

-   -   a) one or more proteins, selected from the group consisting of    -   F5 (Somamer ID: SL000622; UniProt ID: P12259),    -   ICAM3 (Somamer ID: SL003178; UniProt ID: P32942),    -   PIGR (Somamer ID: SL005797; UniProt ID: P01833),    -   STX1A (Somamer ID: SL004304; UniProt ID: Q16623), and    -   TEK (Somamer ID: SL003200; UniProt ID: Q02763),    -   and/or    -   b) one or more proteins, selected from the group consisting of    -   ANG (Somamer ID: SL000003; UniProt ID: P03950),    -   IL1B (Somamer ID: SL001795; UniProt ID: P01584),    -   LEPR (Somamer ID: SL003184; UniProt ID: P48357),    -   MAP2K2 (Somamer ID: SL010501; UniProt ID: P36507),    -   MAPK11 (Somamer ID: SL007453; UniProt ID: Q15759),    -   RGMB (Somamer ID: SL010468; UniProt ID: Q6NW40), and    -   TNFRSF17 (Somamer ID: SL004672; UniProt ID: Q02223)    -   and/or preferably also proteins having at least 80%, more        preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95% and        especially at least 99% sequence homology to said specific        proteins.

More preferably, a high level as defined herein for one or more specificproteins in the respective body fluid, preferably in the blood plasma,of the patient is advantageous with respect to the clinical outcome, ifsaid high level of said one or more specific proteins in said body fluidcomprises one or more of the proteins selected from the group consistingof

-   -   DCN (Somamer ID: SL004081; UniProt ID: P07585),    -   F5 (Somamer ID: SL000622; UniProt ID: P12259),    -   ICAM3 (Somamer ID: SL003178; UniProt ID: P32942),    -   PIGR (Somamer ID: SL005797; UniProt ID: P01833),    -   STK17B (Somamer ID: SL016566; UniProt ID: 094768),    -   STX1A (Somamer ID: SL004304; UniProt ID: Q16623), and    -   TEK (Somamer ID: SL003200; UniProt ID: Q02763),    -   even more preferably one or more of the proteins selected from        the group consisting of    -   F5 (Somamer ID: SL000622; UniProt ID: P12259),    -   ICAM3 (Somamer ID: SL003178; UniProt ID: P32942),    -   PIGR (Somamer ID: SL005797; UniProt ID: P01833),    -   STX1A (Somamer ID: SL004304; UniProt ID: Q16623), and    -   TEK (Somamer ID: SL003200; UniProt ID: Q02763),    -   and/or preferably also proteins having at least 80%, more        preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95% and        especially at least 99% sequence homology to said specific        proteins.

More preferably, a low level as defined herein for one or more specificproteins in the respective body fluid, preferably in the blood plasma,of the patient is advantageous with respect to the clinical outcome ofthe treatment of the respective bone metastasis disease with the atleast one pan αv integrin inhibitor, if said low level of said one ormore specific proteins in said body fluid comprises one or more of theproteins selected from the group consisting of

-   -   ANG (Somamer ID: SL000003; UniProt ID: P03950),    -   IL1B (Somamer ID: SL001795; UniProt ID: P01584),    -   LEPR (Somamer ID: SL003184; UniProt ID: P48357),    -   MAP2K2 (Somamer ID: SL010501; UniProt ID: P36507),    -   MAPK11 (Somamer ID: SL007453; UniProt ID: Q15759),    -   RGMB (Somamer ID: SL010468; UniProt ID: Q6NW40), and    -   TNFRSF17 (Somamer ID: SL004672; UniProt ID: Q02223)    -   and/or preferably also proteins having at least 80%, more        preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95% and        especially at least 99% sequence homology to said specific        proteins.

Said specific proteins are preferably characterised by the followingsequences and/or sequence IDs (Amino acid sequences of protein listed inTable 1 as identified by UniProt IDs in FASTA format):

ANG (SEQ ID NO: 12):  >sp|P03950|ANGI_HUMAN Angiogenin OS = Homo sapiens GN = ANG PE = 1 SV = 1 MVMGLGVLLLVFVLGLGLTPPTLAQDNSRYTHFLTQHYDAKPQGRDDRYC ESIMRRRGLTSPCKDINTFIHGNKRSIKAICENKNGNPHRENLRISKSSFQVTTCKLHGGSPWPPCQYRATAGFRNVVVACENGLPVHLDQSIFRRP DCN (SEQ ID NO:13):  >sp|P07585|PGS2_HUMAN Decorin OS = Homo sapiens GN = DCN PE = 1 SV = 1MKATIILLLLAQVSWAGPFQQRGLFDFMLEDEASGIGPEVPDDRDFEPSLGPVCPFRCQCHLRVVQCSDLGLDKVPKDLPPDTTLLDLQNNKITEIKDGDFKNLKNLHALILVNNKISKVSPGAFTPLVKLERLYLSKNQLKELPEKMPKTLQELRAHENEITKVRKVTFNGLNQMIVIELGTNPLKSSGIENGAFQGMKKLSYIRIADTNITSIPQGLPPSLTELHLDGNKISRVDAASLKGLNNLAKLGLSFNSISAVDNGSLANTPHLRELHLDNNKLTRVPGGLAEHKYIQVVYLHNNNISVVGSSDFCPPGHNTKKASYSGVSLFSNPVQYWEIQPSTFRCVYVR SAIQLGNYK F5 (SEQ ID NO: 14):  >sp|P12259|FA5_HUMAN Coagulation factor V OS = Homo sapiens GN = F5 PE = 1 SV = 4 MFPGCPRLWVLVVLGTSWVGWGSQGTEAAQLRQFYVAAQGISWSYRPEPTNSSLNLSVTSFKKIVYREYEPYFKKEKPQSTISGLLGPTLYAEVGDIIKVHFKNKADKPLSIHPQGIRYSKLSEGASYLDHTFPAEKMDDAVAPGREYTYEWSISEDSGPTHDDPPCLTHIYYSHENLIEDFNSGLIGPLLICKKGTLTEGGTQKTFDKQIVLLFAVFDESKSWSQSSSLMYTVNGYVNGTMPDITVCAHDHISWHLLGMSSGPELFSIHFNGQVLEQNHHKVSAITLVSATSTTANMTVGPEGKWIISSLTPKHLQAGMQAYIDIKNCPKKTRNLKKITREQRRHMKRWEYFIAAEEVIWDYAPVIPANMDKKYRSQHLDNFSNQIGKHYKKVMYTQYEDESFTKHTVNPNMKEDGILGPIIRAQVRDTLKIVFKNMASRPYSIYPHGVTFSPYEDEVNSSFTSGRNNTMIRAVQPGETYTYKWNILEFDEPTENDAQCLTRPYYSDVDIMRDIASGLIGLLLICKSRSLDRRGIQRAADIEQQAVFAVFDENKSWYLEDNINKFCENPDEVKRDDPKFYESNIMSTINGYVPESITTLGFCFDDTVQWHFCSVGTQNEILTIHFTGHSFIYGKRHEDTLTLFPMRGESVTVTMDNVGTWMLTSMNSSPRSKKLRLKFRDVKCIPDDDEDSYEIFEPPESTVMATRKMHDRLEPEDEESDADYDYQNRLAAALGIRSFRNSSLNQEEEEFNLTALALENGTEFVSSNTDIIVGSNYSSPSNISKFTVNNLAEPQKAPSHQQATTAGSPLRHLIGKNSVLNSSTAEHSSPYSEDPIEDPLQPDVTGIRLLSLGAGEFKSQEHAKHKGPKVERDQAAKHRFSWMKLLAHKVGRHLSQDTGSPSGMRPWEDLPSQDTGSPSRMRPWKDPPSDLLLLKQSNSSKILVGRWHLASEKGSYEIIQDTDEDTAVNNWLISPQNASRAWGESTPLANKPGKQSGHPKFPRVRHKSLQVRQDGGKSRLKKSQFLIKTRKKKKEKHTHHAPLSPRTFHPLRSEAYNTFSERRLKHSLVLHKSNETSLPTDLNQTLPSMDFGWIASLPDHNQNSSNDTGQASCPPGLYQTVPPEEHYQTFPIQDPDQMHSTSDPSHRSSSPELSEMLEYDRSHKSFPTDISQMSPSSEHEVWQTVISPDLSQVTLSPELSQTNLSPDLSHTTLSPELIQRNLSPALGQMPISPDLSHTTLSPDLSHTTLSLDLSQTNLSPELSQTNLSPALGQMPLSPDLSHTTLSLDFSQTNLSPELSHMTLSPELSQTNLSPALGQMPISPDLSHTTLSLDFSQTNLSPELSQTNLSPALGQMPLSPDPSHTTLSLDLSQTNLSPELSQTNLSPDLSEMPLFADLSQIPLTPDLDQMTLSPDLGETDLSPNFGQMSLSPDLSQVTLSPDISDTTLLPDLSQISPPPDLDQIFYPSESSQSLLLQEFNESFPYPDLGQMPSPSSPTLNDTFLSKEFNPLVIVGLSKDGTDYIEIIPKEEVQSSEDDYAEIDYVPYDDPYKTDVRTNINSSRDPDNIAAWYLRSNNGNRRNYYIAAEEISWDYSEFVQRETDIEDSDDIPEDTTYKKVVFRKYLDSTFTKRDPRGEYEEHLGILGPIIRAEVDDVIQVRFKNLASRPYSLHAHGLSYEKSSEGKTYEDDSPEWFKEDNAVQPNSSYTYVWHATERSGPESPGSACRAWAYYSAVNPEKDIHSGLIGPLLICQKGILHKDSNMPMDMREFVLLFMTFDEKKSWYYEKKSRSSWRLTSSEMKKSHEFHAINGMIYSLPGLKMYEQEWVRLHLLNIGGSQDIHVVHFHGQTLLENGNKQHQLGVWPLLPGSFKTLEMKASKPGWWLLNTEVGENQRAGMQTPFLIMDRDCRMPMGLSTGIISDSQIKASEFLGYWEPRLARLNNGGSYNAWSVEKLAAEFASKPWIQVDMQKEVIITGIQTQGAKHYLKSCYTTEFYVAYSSNQINWQIFKGNSTRNVMYFNGNSDASTIKENQFDPPIVARYIRISPTRAYNRPTLRLELQGCEVNGCSTPLGMENGKIENKQITASSFKKSWWGDYWEPFRARLNAQGRVNAWQAKANNNKQWLEIDLLKIKKITAIITQGCKSLSSEMYVKSYTIHYSEQGVEWKPYRLKSSMVDKIFEGNTNTKGHVKNFFNPPIISRFIRVIPKTWNQSIALRLELFGCDIYICAM3 (SEQ ID NO: 26):  >sp|P32942|ICAM3_HUMAN Intercellular adhesion molecule 3 OS = Homo sapiens GN = ICAM3 PE = 1  SV = 2 MATMVPSVLWPRACWTLLVCCLLTPGVQGQEFLLRVEPQNPVLSAGGSLFVNCSTDCPSSEKIALETSLSKELVASGMGWAAFNLSNVTGNSRILCSVYCNGSQITGSSNITVYRLPERVELAPLPPWQPVGQNFTLRCQVEDGSPRTSLTVVLLRWEEELSRQPAVEEPAEVTATVLASRDDHGAPFSCRTELDMQPQGLGLFVNTSAPRQLRTFVLPVTPPRLVAPRFLEVETSWPVDCTLDGLFPASEAQVYLALGDQMLNATVMNHGDTLTATATATARADQEGAREIVCNVTLGGERREARENLTVFSFLGPIVNLSEPTAHEGSTVTVSCMAGARVQVTLDGVPAAAPGQPAQLQLNATESDDGRSFFCSATLEVDGEFLHRNSSVQLRVLYGPKIDRATCPQHLKWKDKTRHVLQCQARGNPYPELRCLKEGSSREVPVGIPFFVNVTHNGTYQCQASSSRGKYTLVVVMDIEAGSSHFVPVFVAVLLTLGVVTIVLALMYVFREHQRSGSYHVREESTYLPLTSMQPTEAMGEEPSRAEIL1B (SEQ ID NO: 15):  >sp|P01584|IL1B_HUMAN Interleukin-1 beta OS = Homo sapiens GN = IL1B PE = 1 SV = 2 MAEVPELASEMMAYYSGNEDDLFFEADGPKQMKCSFQDLDLCPLDGGIQLRISDHHYSKGFRQAASVVVAMDKLRKMLVPCPQTFQENDLSTFFPFIFEEEPIFFDTWDNEAYVHDAPVRSLNCTLRDSQQKSLVMSGPYELKALHLQGQDMEQQVVFSMSFVQGEESNDKIPVALGLKEKNLYLSCVLKDDKPTLQLESVDPKNYPKKKMEKRFVFNKIEINNKLEFESAQFPNWYISTSQAENMPVFL GGTKGGQDITDFTMQFVSSLEPR (SEQ ID NO: 16):  >sp|P48357|LEPR_HUMAN Leptin receptorOS = Homo sapiens GN = LEPR PE = 1 SV = 2 MICQKFCVVLLHWEFIYVITAFNLSYPITPWRFKLSCMPPNSTYDYFLLPAGLSKNTSNSNGHYETAVEPKFNSSGTHFSNLSKTTFHCCFRSEQDRNCSLCADNIEGKTFVSTVNSLVFQQIDANWNIQCWLKGDLKLFICYVESLFKNLFRNYNYKVHLLYVLPEVLEDSPLVPQKGSFQMVHCNCSVHECCECLVPVPTAKLNDTLLMCLKITSGGVIFQSPLMSVQPINMVKPDPPLGLHMEITDDGNLKISWSSPPLVPFPLQYQVKYSENSTTVIREADKIVSATSLLVDSILPGSSYEVQVRGKRLDGPGIWSDWSTPRVFTTQDVIYFPPKILTSVGSNVSFHCIYKKENKIVPSKEIVWWMNLAEKIPQSQYDVVSDHVSKVTFFNLNETKPRGKFTYDAVYCCNEHECHHRYAELYVIDVNINISCETDGYLTKMTCRWSTSTIQSLAESTLQLRYHRSSLYCSDIPSIHPISEPKDCYLQSDGFYECIFQPIFLLSGYTMWIRINHSLGSLDSPPTCVLPDSVVKPLPPSSVKAEITINIGLLKISWEKPVFPENNLQFQIRYGLSGKEVQWKMYEVYDAKSKSVSLPVPDLCAVYAVQVRCKRLDGLGYWSNWSNPAYTVVMDIKVPMRGPEFWRIINGDTMKKEKNVTLLWKPLMKNDSLCSVQRYVINHHTSCNGTWSEDVGNHTKFTFLVVTEQAHTVTVLAINSIGASVANFNLTFSWPMSKVNIVQSLSAYPLNSSCVIVSWILSPSDYKLMYFIIEWKNLNEDGEIKWLRISSSVKKYYIHDHFIPIEKYQFSLYPIFMEGVGKPKIINSFTQDDIEKHQSDAGLYVIVPVIISSSILLLGTLLISHQRMKKLFWEDVPNPKNCSWAQGLNFQKPETFEHLFIKHTASVTCGPLLLEPETISEDISVDTSWKNKDEMMPTTVVSLLSTTDLEKGSVCISDQFNSVNFSEAEGTEVTYEDESQRQPFVKYATLISNSKPSETGEEQGLINSSVTKCFSSKNSPLKDSFSNSSWEIEAQAFFILSDQHPNIISPHLTFSEGLDELLKLEGNFPEENNDKKSIYYLGVTSIKKRESGVLLTDKSRVSCPFPAPCLFTDIRVLQDSCSHFVENNINLGTSSKKTFASYMPQFQTCS TQTHKIMENKMCDLTV MAP2K2 (SEQ ID NO: 17):  >sp|P36507|MP2K2_HUMAN Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 OS = Homo sapiens GN = MAP2K2 PE = 1 SV = 1 MLARRKPVLPALTINPTIAEGPSPTSEGASEANLVDLQKKLEELELDEQQKKRLEAFLTQKAKVGELKDDDFERISELGAGNGGVVTKVQHRPSGLIMARKLIHLEIKPAIRNQIIRELQVLHECNSPYIVGFYGAFYSDGEISICMEHMDGGSLDQVLKEAKRIPEEILGKVSIAVLRGLAYLREKHQIMHRDVKPSNILVNSRGEIKLCDFGVSGQLIDSMANSFVGTRSYMAPERLQGTHYSVQSDIWSMGLSLVELAVGRYPIPPPDAKELEAIFGRPVVDGEEGEPHSISPRPRPPGRPVSGHGMDSRPAMAIFELLDYIVNEPPPKLPNGVFTPDFQEFVNKCLIKNPAERADLKMLTNHTFIKRSEVEEVDFAGWLCKTLRLNQPGTPTRTAV MAPK11 (SEQ ID NO: 18):  >sp|Q15759|MK11_HUMAN Mitogen-activated protein kinase 11 OS = Homo sapiens GN = MAPK11 PE = 1  SV = 2 MSGPRAGFYRQELNKTVWEVPQRLQGLRPVGSGAYGSVCSAYDARLRQKVAVKKLSRPFQSLIHARRTYRELRLLKHLKHENVIGLLDVFTPATSIEDFSEVYLVTTLMGADLNNIVKCQALSDEHVQFLVYQLLRGLKYIHSAGIIHRDLKPSNVAVNEDCELRILDFGLARQADEEMTGYVATRVVYRAPEIMLNWMHYNQTVDIWSVGCIMAELLQGKALFPGSDYIDQLKRIMEVVGTPSPEVLAKISSEHARTYIQSLPPMPQKDLSSIFRGANPLAIDLLGRMLVLDSDQRVSAAEALAHAYFSQYHDPEDEPEAEPYDESVEAKERTLEEWKELTYQEVLSFK PPEPPKPPGSLEIEQPIGR (SEQ ID NO: 19):  >sp|P01833|PIGR_HUMAN Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor OS = Homo sapiens GN = PIGR PE = 1 SV = 4 MLLFVLTCLLAVFPAISTKSPIFGPEEVNSVEGNSVSITCYYPPTSVNRHTRKYWCRQGARGGCITLISSEGYVSSKYAGRANLTNFPENGTFVVNIAQLSQDDSGRYKCGLGINSRGLSFDVSLEVSQGPGLLNDTKVYTVDLGRTVTINCPFKTENAQKRKSLYKQIGLYPVLVIDSSGYVNPNYTGRIRLDIQGTGQLLFSVVINQLRLSDAGQYLCQAGDDSNSNKKNADLQVLKPEPELVYEDLRGSVTFHCALGPEVANVAKFLCRQSSGENCDVVVNTLGKRAPAFEGRILLNPQDKDGSFSVVITGLRKEDAGRYLCGAHSDGQLQEGSPIQAWQLFVNEESTIPRSPTVVKGVAGGSVAVLCPYNRKESKSIKYWCLWEGAQNGRCPLLVDSEGWVKAQYEGRLSLLEEPGNGTFTVILNQLTSRDAGFYWCLTNGDTLWRTTVEIKIIEGEPNLKVPGNVTAVLGETLKVPCHFPCKFSSYEKYWCKWNNTGCQALPSQDEGPSKAFVNCDENSRLVSLTLNLVTRADEGWYWCGVKQGHFYGETAAVYVAVEERKAAGSRDVSLAKADAAPDEKVLDSGFREIENKAIQDPRLFAEEKAVADTRDQADGSRASVDSGSSEEQGGSSRALVSTLVPLGLVLAVGAVAVGVARARHRKNVDRVSIRSYRTDISMSDFENSREFGANDNMGASSITQETSLGGKEEFVATTESTTETKEPKKAKRSSKEEAEMAYKDFLLQS STVAAEAQDGPQEARGMB (SEQ ID NO: 20):  >sp|Q6NW40|RGMB_HUMAN RGM domain family member B OS = Homo sapiens GN = RGMB PE = 1 SV = 3 MGLRAAPSSAAAAAAEVEQRRSPGLCPPPLELLLLLLFSLGLLHAGDCQQPAQCRIQKCTTDFVSLTSHLNSAVDGFDSEFCKALRAYAGCTQRTSKACRGNLVYHSAVLGISDLMSQRNCSKDGPTSSTNPEVTHDPCNYHSHAGAREHRRGDQNPPSYLFCGLFGDPHLRTFKDNFQTCKVEGAWPLIDNNYLSVQVTNVPVVPGSSATATNKITIIFKAHHECTDQKVYQAVTDDLPAAFVDGTTSGGDSDAKSLRIVERESGHYVEMHARYIGTTVFVRQVGRYLTLAIRMPEDLAMSYEESQDLQLCVNGCPLSERIDDGQGQVSAILGHSLPRTSLVQAWPGYTLETANTQCHEKMPVKDIYFQSCVFDLLTTGDANFTAAAHSALEDVEALHPRKERWHIFPSSGNGTPRGGSDLSVSLGLTCLILIVFL STK17B (SEQ ID NO: 21):  >sp|O94768|ST17B_HUMAN Serine/threonine-protein kinase 17B OS = Homo sapiens GN = STK17B PE = 1  SV = 1 MSRRRFDCRSISGLLTTTPQIPIKMENFNNFYILTSKELGRGKFAVVRQCISKSTGQEYAAKFLKKRRRGQDCRAEILHEIAVLELAKSCPRVINLHEVYENTSEIILILEYAAGGEIFSLCLPELAEMVSENDVIRLIKQILEGVYYLHQNNIVHLDLKPQNILLSSIYPLGDIKIVDFGMSRKIGHACELREIMGTPEYLAPEILNYDPITTATDMWNIGIIAYMLLTHTSPFVGEDNQETYLNISQVNVDYSEETFSSVSQLATDFIQSLLVKNPEKRPTAEICLSHSWLQQWDFENLFHPEETSSSSQTQDHSVRSSEDKTSKSSCNGTCGDREDKENIPEDSSMVSKRFRFDDSLPNPHELVSDLLCSTX1A (SEQ ID NO: 22):  >sp|Q16623|STX1A_HUMAN Syntaxin-1A OS = Homo sapiens GN = STX1A PE = 1 SV = 1 MKDRTQELRTAKDSDDDDDVAVTVDRDRFMDEFFEQVEEIRGFIDKIAENVEEVKRKHSAILASPNPDEKTKEELEELMSDIKKTANKVRSKLKSIEQSIEQEEGLNRSSADLRIRKTQHSTLSRKFVEVMSEYNATQSDYRERCKGRIQRQLEITGRTTTSEELEDMLESGNPAIFASGIIMDSSISKQALSEIETRHSEIIKLENSIRELHDMFMDMAMLVESQGEMIDRIEYNVEHAVDYVERAVSDTKKAVKYQSKARRKKIMIIICCVILGIVIASTVGGIFA TEK (SEQ ID NO: 23):  >sp|Q02763|TIE2_HUMAN Angiopoietin-1 receptor OS = Homo sapiens GN = TEK PE = 1 SV = 2 MDSLASLVLCGVSLLLSGTVEGAMDLILINSLPLVSDAETSLTCIASGWRPHEPITIGRDFEALMNQHQDPLEVTQDVTREWAKKVVWKREKASKINGAYFCEGRVRGEAIRIRTMKMRQQASFLPATLTMTVDKGDNVNISFKKVLIKEEDAVIYKNGSFIHSVPRHEVPDILEVHLPHAQPQDAGVYSARYIGGNLFTSAFTRLIVRRCEAQKWGPECNHLCTACMNNGVCHEDTGECICPPGFMGRTCEKACELHTFGRTCKERCSGQEGCKSYVFCLPDPYGCSCATGWKGLQCNEACHPGFYGPDCKLRCSCNNGEMCDRFQGCLCSPGWQGLQCEREGIQRMTPKIVDLPDHIEVNSGKFNPICKASGWPLPTNEEMTLVKPDGTVLHPKDFNHTDHFSVAIFTIHRILPPDSGVWVCSVNTVAGMVEKPFNISVKVLPKPLNAPNVIDTGHNFAVINISSEPYFGDGPIKSKKLLYKPVNHYEAWQHIQVTNEIVTLNYLEPRTEYELCVQLVRRGEGGEGHPGPVRRFTTASIGLPPPRGLNLLPKSQTTLNLTWQPIFPSSEDDFYVEVERRSVQKSDQQNIKVPGNLTSVLLNNLHPREQYVVRARVNTKAQGEWSEDLTAWTLSDILPPQPENIKISNITHSSAVISWTILDGYSISSITIRYKVQGKNEDQHVDVKIKNATITQYQLKGLEPETAYQVDIFAENNIGSSNPAFSHELVTLPESQAPADLGGGKMLLIAILGSAGMTCLTVLLAFLIILQLKRANVQRRMAQAFQNVREEPAVQFNSGTLALNRKVKNNPDPTIYPVLDWNDIKFQDVIGEGNFGQVLKARIKKDGLRMDAAIKRMKEYASKDDHRDFAGELEVLCKLGHHPNIINLLGACEHRGYLYLAIEYAPHGNLLDFLRKSRVLETDPAFAIANSTASTLSSQQLLHFAADVARGMDYLSQKQFIHRDLAARNILVGENYVAKIADFGLSRGQEVYVKKTMGRLPVRWMAIESLNYSVYTTNSDVWSYGVLLWEIVSLGGTPYCGMTCAELYEKLPQGYRLEKPLNCDDEVYDLMRQCWREKPYERPSFAQILVSLNRMLEERKTYVNTTLYEKFTYAGIDCSAEEAATNFRSF17 (SEQ ID NO: 24):  >sp|Q02223|TNR17_HUMAN Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17 OS = Homo sapiens GN = TNFRSF17 PE = 1 SV = 2 MLQMAGQCSQNEYFDSLLHACIPCQLRCSSNTPPLTCQRYCNASVTNSVKGTNAILVVTCLGLSLIISLAVFVLMFLLRKINSEPLKDEFKNTGSGLLGMANIDLEKSRTGDEIILPRGLEYTVEECTCEDCIKSKPKVDSDHCFPLPAMEEGATILVTTKTNDYCKSLPAALSATEIEKSISAR

Specific proteins according to the invention are preferably alsoproteins having at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, even morepreferably at least 95% and especially at least 99% sequence homology tothe afore described sequences.

As further described herein, a high level of one or more proteins of afirst group of said specific proteins and/or a low level of one or moreproteins from a second group of specific proteins is predictive forimproved clinical benefit, preferably clinical benefit as describedherein, under treatment with at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor,preferably including or consisting of Abituzumab, for subjects sufferingfrom a bone metastasis disease, including but not limited to metastaticprostate cancer, and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer(mCRPC). Preferably, a high level of one or more proteins of a firstgroup of said specific proteins and/or a low level of one or moreproteins from a second group of specific proteins is predictive forimproved overall survival and/or improved progression free survival,under treatment with at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor, preferablyincluding or consisting of Abituzumab, for subjects suffering from abone metastasis disease, including but not limited to metastaticprostate cancer, and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer(mCRPC).

In an alternatively preferred embodiment, Intetumumab (CNTO-95) can beemployed as the at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor in the methodaccording to the invention, instead of Abituzumab.

Said protein levels for said specific proteins are preferably at thesame time negative prognostic indicating that the biologically addressedby the markers plays a role both for disease prognosis (summarized inTable 2).

TABLE 1 Clinical outcome dependent on the respective specific proteinlevel under Abituzumab treatment: Patients with benefit have HazardRatio High(er) or (HR) Low(er) of Gene plasma progression- symbol levelsfree survival Logrank (Somamer UniProt compared (PFS) test ID) ID tomedian [CI 95%] p-value ANG P03950 Low 0.500 0.03 (SL000003)[0.272-0.916] DCN P07585 High 0.443 0.015 (SL004081) [0.235-0.832] F5P12259 High 0.416 0.01 (SL000622) [0.219-0.790] ICAM3 P32942 High 0.4270.0059 (SL003178) [0.239-0.766] IL1B P01584 Low 0.498 0.022 (SL001795)[0.279-0.891] LEPR P48357 Low 0.389 0.0033 (SL003184) [0.211-0.717]MAP2K2 P36507 Low 0.397 0.0023 (SL010501) [0.224-0.702] MAPK11 Q15759Low 0.321 0.00058 (SL007453) [0.171-0.603] PIGR P01833 High 0.3110.00046 (SL005797) [0.166-0.582] RGMB Q6NW40 Low 0.457 0.0093 (SL010468)[0.256-0.813] STK17B O94768 High 0.380 0.0078 (SL016566) [0.193-0.747]STX1A Q16623 High 0.250 0.000032 (SL004304) [0.131-0.476] TEK Q02763High 0.508 0.03 (SL003200) [0.280-0.920] TNFRSF17 Q02223 Low 0.471 0.012(SL004672) [0.265-0.836

TABLE 2 Clinical outcome, preferably determined by radiologic PFS (rPFS)dependent on the respective specific protein level under SoC treatment:High levels indicate Gene (g)ood, or symbol (p)oor prognosis (SomamerUniProt under SOC ID) ID [HR] ANG P03950 Good (SL000003) [0.698] DCNP07585 Poor (SL004081) [1.5] F5 P12259 Poor (SL000622) [2.11] ICAM3P32942 Poor (SL003178) [2.60] IL1B P01584 Good (SL001795) [0.43] LEPRP48357 Good (SL003184) [0.419] MAP2K2 P36507 Good (SL010501) [0.346]MAPK11 Q15759 Good (SL007453) [0.274] PIGR P01833 Poor (SL005797) [3.44]RGMB Q6NW40 Good (SL010468) [0.393] STK17B O94768 Poor (SL016566) [4.40]STX1A Q16623 Poor (SL004304) [3.77] TEK Q02763 Poor (SL003200) [1.95]TNFRSF17 Q02223 Good (SL004672) [0.425]

The clinical outcome of patients having tumors and/or metastases (bothpreferably also referred to as tumour lesions or lesions) is preferablyanalysed according to response (complete and partial), benefit (responseand stable disease), and progressive disease. Lesions are preferablyevaluated using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (i.e.RECIST criteria) whereby “complete response” (CR) is preferably definedas the disappearance of the target lesions; “partial response” (PR) ispreferably defined as at least a 30% decrease in the sum of the longestiron metre of target lesions, preferably taking as reference thebaseline sum longest diameter; “progressive disease” (PD) is preferablydefined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter oftarget lesions, preferably taking as reference the smallest sum longestdiameter recorded since the treatment started or the appearance of oneor more new lesions; and “stable disease” (SD) is preferably defined asneither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for partial response norsufficient increased to qualify for progressive disease, preferablytaking as reference the smallest sum longest diameter since thetreatment started.

Preferably, the at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor, preferablyAbituzumab or Intetumumab (CNTO-95), is administered to said subject incombination with one or more chemotherapeutic agents.

Treatment of prostate cancer and/or metastases thereof may involvesurgery (e.g. radical prostatectomy), radiation therapy includingbrachytherapy (prostate brachytherapy) and external beam radiationtherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), chemotherapy, oralchemotherapeutic drugs (Temozolomide/TMZ), cryosurgery, hormonaltherapy, or combinations thereof.

Most hormone dependent cancers become refractory after one to threeyears and resume growth despite hormone therapy. Previously considered“hormone-refractory prostate cancer” or “androgen-independent prostatecancer”, the term castration-resistant has replaced “hormone refractory”because while they are no longer responsive to castration treatment(reduction of available androgen/testosterone/DHT by chemical orsurgical means), these cancers still show reliance upon hormones forandrogen receptor activation. However, there are now severalchemotherapeutic treatments available to treat CRPC that improvesurvival.

Chemotherapeutics in this respect preferably include, but are notlimited to docetaxel, cabazitaxel, bevacizumab, docetaxel, thalidomideand prednisone, and combinations thereof. E.g., a combination ofbevacizumab, docetaxel, thalidomide and prednisone has shown clinicalbenefits.

Chemotherapeutics in this respect preferably also include, but are notlimited to, cetuximab, Panitumumab, irinotecan, vinorelbine,capecitabine, leucovorine, oxaliplatin, cisplatin, carboplatin,5-fluorouracil (5-FU), bevacizumab, aflibercept and regorafenib.

More preferably, one or more chemotherapeutic agents, even morepreferably two or more and especially one, two or three chemotherapeuticagents

-   -   a) selected from the group consisting of leuproreline acetate,        bicalutamide, nilutamide, triptoreline, gosereline, flutamide,        cyproterone, busereline and degarelix,    -   b) selected from the group consisting of Zoledronic acid,        Pamidronic acid, Clodronate disodium, Alendronic acid and        Ibandronic acid, and/or    -   c) selected from the group consisting of Abiraterone,        Abiraterone acetate, Prednisone, Enzalutamide, Radium Ra 223        dichloride, Docetaxel, Sipuleucel-T, Cabazitaxel and        Mitoxantrone,    -   are employed. This is preferred for subjects suffering from a        bone metastasis disease, more preferred for subjects suffering        from metastatic prostate cancer, and especially for subjects        suffering from metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer        (mCRPC).

A subset of subjects appears to respond to androgen signaling blockingdrugs, including, but not limited to Luteinizing hormone-releasinghormone (LH-RH) agonists and/or antagonists as well asgonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and/or antagonists.Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) as well asgonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) are hormone therapy drugs thatlower the production of testosterone in a man's body. This drop intestosterone usually slows or stops the growth of prostate cancer for aperiod of time. Thus, it is in many cases preferred to administer thisclass of compounds in connection with treatment with Abituzumab orIntetumumab (CNTO-95).

Further agents that are preferably regarded as chemotherapeutics in thecontext of the instant invention include sipuleucel-T, abiraterone andEnzalutamide.

Pain is common in metastatic cancers and especially in case of bonemetastases thereof. This is also true with prostate cancer, and cancerpain related to bone metastases can be treated with bisphosphonates,medications such as opioids, and palliative radiation therapy to knownmetastases. Spinal cord compression can occur with metastases to thespine, and can be treated with steroids, surgery, or radiation therapy.

The traditional treatments for cancer are Radiotherapy and chemotherapy,usually in combination with one another. Scientists and pharmaceuticalcompanies are researching drugs to target different types of cancer,including metastatic bone disease.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has CE approval for palliativecare for bone metastasis. As an entirely side-effect free andnon-invasive treatment, HIFU has been successfully applied in thetreatment of cancer to destroy tumours of the bone, brain, breast,liver, pancreas, rectum, kidney, testes, and prostate.

One treatment option for bone metastases that has to be considered istreatment with bisphosphonates, often in combination of otherchemotherapeutics and/or (anti-)hormonal treatment. Bisphosphonates haveshown great promise in reducing bone cancer pain, bone destruction, andtumor growth.

Monthly injections of radium-223 chloride (as Xofigo, formerly calledAlpharadin) have been approved by the FDA in May 2013 forcastration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with bone metastases.

Especially preferably, the at least one pan αv integrin inhibitor,preferably Abituzumab or Intetumumab (CNTO-95), more preferablyAbituzumab, is administered to said subject in combination with two ormore chemotherapeutic agents, preferably referred to as standards ofcare (SoC).

Preferred standards of care (SoC) include, but are not limited to:

-   -   a) at least one LHRH agonist/antagonist, preferably selected        from the group consisting of Leuproreline, Leuproreline acetate,        bicalutam id, nilutamide, triptoreline, gosereline, flutamide,        cyproterone, busereline and degarelix, and/or    -   b) at least one bisphosphonate, preferably selected from the        group consisting of Zoledronic acid, Pamidronic acid, Clodronate        disodium, Alendronic acid and Ibandronic acid.

More preferred standards of care (SoC) include, but are not limited to:

-   -   a) at least one LHRH agonist/antagonist, preferably selected        from the group consisting of Leuproreline, Leuproreline acetate,        bicalutam id, nilutamide, triptoreline, gosereline, flutamide,        cyproterone, busereline and degarelix, and/or the        pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and/or salts thereof; in        combination with    -   b) at least one bisphosphonate, preferably selected from the        group consisting of Zoledronic acid, Pamidronic acid, Clodronate        disodium, Alendronic acid and Ibandronic acid,    -   and/or the pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and/or salts        thereof.

The most preferred standard of care (SoC) includes:

-   -   a) Leuproreline, Leuproreline acetate and/or pharmaceutically        acceptable derivatives and/or salts thereof,    -   in combination with    -   b) Zoledronic acid and/or pharmaceutically acceptable        derivatives and/or salts thereof.

αv integrins are cell adhesion molecules involved in cell survival,proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis; they are deregulated invarious cancer types, including prostate cancer (Legate K R, et al. NatRev Mol Cell Biol 2006; 7:20-31; Guise T A, et al. Clin Cancer Res 2006;12:6213s-16s). Abituzumab, a humanized monoclonal IgG2 antibody,inhibits αv-integrins expressed on castrate-resistant prostate cancer(CRPC) cells, tumor vessels, and osteoclasts involved in bone metastasis(Mitjans F, et al. J Cell Sci 1995; 108:2825-38; Monnier Y, et al.Cancer Res 2008; 68:7323-31). Abituzumab demonstrated antitumor activityin in vivo CRPC models and was well tolerated in a phase I study inmCRPC patients previously treated with docetaxel (Wirth M, et al. EurUrol 2014; 65:897-904).

In an randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial, atotal of 180 patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive

-   -   a) standard of care (SoC), e.g. continuous treatment with a        luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist and bisphosphonate        treatment, e.g. with Leuproreline or Leuproreline acetate and        Zoledronic acid (and/or pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives        and/or salts thereof) plus placebo,    -   b) SoC as described under a) plus abituzumab 750 mg, or    -   c) SoC as described under a) plus abituzumab 1,500 mg.    -   Patients were treated until rPD in bone or soft tissue lesions,        skeletal event, death, or unacceptable toxicity; Patients in the        placebo arm who had asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic rPD on        treatment could crossover to abituzumab 1,500 mg (open-label).

Median PFS with abituzumab 1,500 mg was modestly longer than withabituzumab 750 mg or placebo: 4.3 (95% CI: 2.8-6.6) vs 3.4 (95% CI:2.8-5.6) and 3.3 (95% CI: 2.8-4.8) months; HR abituzumab 1,500 mg vsplacebo: 0.81 (95% CI: 0.52-1.26). Patients receiving abituzumabexperienced bone progression less frequently than those receivingplacebo (23% of patients receiving abituzumab had bone progression, vs42% of those receiving SoC).

Blood sampling for plasma protein analyses was scheduled pre-treatment.Plasma protein analyses (based on highly protein-specific aptamers[SomaLogic system]) were performed on samples taken from 150 patientsprior to treatment in cycle 1.

The original set of simultaneously determined 1,129 plasma proteinlevels was restricted to 888 proteins on the data level to αvoidpotential bias due to cell lysis or platelet activation during plasmapreparation. Nine global biomarker search analyses were carried outusing different normalization procedures, data sets and biomarkerdichotomization thresholds, with the aim of filtering specific proteinsthat are predictive biomarkers for Abituzumab therapy success. Thejudgement whether a distinct protein is a predictive biomarker was basedon an assessment of outcome (OS or PFS) in dependence of treatment (SoCor Abituzumab) and biomarker levels (continuous levels, and dichotomizedcategories “high” and “low” using the median of the investigated patientpopulation as a threshold). Statistical tests were carried out perprotein to identify those proteins that can be considered as predictive.The statistical tests are prior art and comprised. Among other criteria,logrank tests on selected populations, as for example the biomarker“high” and biomarker “low” populations, for detection of differences inoutcome (here OS and/or PFS) for different treatment groups (Abituzumaband SOC; threshold p<=0.05), and Cox regression models investigatingdependence of outcome on the interaction effect between treatment andcontinuous marker levels (interaction term p<=0.05). Further, theprognosticity of the marker levels was assessed on the basis of thepatient group receiving SOC therapy using logrank tests (thresholdp<=0.05) for the “high” and “low” subgroups.

Said specific proteins include decorin (DCN), a protein known to have arole in TGF-β biology, as do some of the αv integrins inhibited byabituzumab (Munger J S, Sheppard D. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2011;3:a005017).

Furthermore, analysis of the biological context of other markersindicated that markers related to known molecular interactions ofabituzumab (bone metabolism modulation and angiogenesis) appear topredict OS and/or PFS with abituzumab therapy.

Thus, plasma levels of each of the identified biomarker plasma proteinswere surprisingly found to be prognostic of poor survival and predictedincreased survival and/or progression free survival with abituzumabcompared to SoC alone.

Thus, the clinical study delivered data on the pharmacokinetics andimmunogenicity of abituzumab, as well as enabled analyses in search ofpredictive biomarkers, and surprisingly provided specific predictiveprotein levels in body fluids, especially specific plasma protein levelsthat allow predicting the therapy outcome under treatment with at leastone pan αv integrin inhibitor, preferably including the pan αv integrininhibitor abituzumab.

Abituzumab is a monoclonal anti-alpha v antibody also designated hereinas DI-17E6, DI17E6, EMR62242 and/or EMD 525797).

DI17E6 is an engineered specifically tailored IgG2 hybrid monoclonalantibody directed to alpha-v integrin (receptor). Cancer therapy bymeans of this antibody reduces side effects associated with this type oftherapy, above all immune reactions, thereby reducing immunogenicity.The antibody is described in detail in WO 2009/010290, the disclosure ofwhich is encorporated herein in its entirety.

Its hypervariable regions (CDRs) derive from murine mAb 17E6 (EMD73034). This parent mouse IgG1 antibody is described, for example byMitjans et al. (1995; J.Cell Sci. 108, 2825) and patents U.S. Pat. No.5,985,278 and EP 719 859. Mouse mAb 17E6 is produced by hybridoma cellline 272-17E6 and deposited under accession number DSM ACC2160.

Its light chain domains derive from humanized monoclaonal anti-EGFRantibody 425 (matuzumab). This antibody is described in detail forexample in EP 0 531 47261, and derives from its murine counterpart 425(mouse MAb 425, ATCC HB9629), The antibody was raised against the humanA431 carcinoma cell line and found to bind to a polypeptide epitope onthe external domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR). Matuzumab has shown in clinical trials high efficacy.

-   -   Generally DI17E6 as used according to the invention comprises:    -   (i) a CDR light and a heavy chain region deriving from mouse        monoclonal anti-αv integrin antibody 17E6    -   (ii) a light chain framework region which is taken from        humanized monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody 425,    -   (iii) a heavy chain framework region deriving from mouse        monoclonal anti-αv integrin antibody 17E6, optionally comprising        one or more mutations of amino acids at specific positions, and    -   (iv) a heavy chain constant region deriving from human IgG2 and        a human constant kappa light chain region, wherein in said IgG2        domain the IgG2 hinge region was replaced by the human IgG1        hinge domain, and;    -   wherein optionally one or more mutations within the IgG2 has        been carried out.    -   Specifically, DI17E6 (designated as “DI-17E6γ2h(N297Q)” or “EMD        525797”) as used for the treatment as described and in the        clinical trials as described above and below, has the following        amino acid sequence:

(i) variable and constant light chain sequences (SEQ ID No. 1):DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC 

WYQQKPGKAPKLLIY

GVPSRFSGSGSGTDYTFTISSLQPEDIATYYC 

FGQGTKV EIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTK SFNRGEC and(ii)variable and constant heavy chain sequences (SEQ ID No.2):QVQLQQSGGELAKPGASVKVSCKASGYTFS 

WVRQAPGQGLEWIG 

RSGYTEYNEIFRDKATMTTDTSTSTAYMELSSLRSEDTAVYYCAS

WGQGTTVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALISGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSNFGTQTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKTVEPKSSDKTHTCPPCPAPPVAGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVQFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQAQSTFRVVSVLTVVHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKGLPAPIEKTISKTKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPMLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPGK, 

-   -   wherein the underlined sequences represent the variable regions        with the CDRs (in bold, identical with the parent mouse        antibody). The modified IgG1 hinge region is represented by        EPKSSDKTHTCPPCP (SEQ ID No. 3), and AQ is a substitution within        the IgG2 domain.    -   However, as it was shown in WO 2009/010290, also variants of        DI17E6 can be used according to the teaching of this invention.        Thus, DI17E6 variants comprising one or more modifications        within the heavy chain framework regions

(SEQ ID No. 27) FR1: QVQLQQSG

ELA

PGASVK

SCKASGYTFS (SEQ ID No. 28) FR2: WV

Q

PGQGLEWIG (SEQ ID No. 29) FR3: KATMT

DTS

STAYM

LS

L

SED

AVYYCAS (SEQ ID No. 30) FR4: WGQGT

VTVSS,

-   -   wherein one or more of the bold and underlined positions are        mutated, can be used in the treatment of prostate cancer        patients as described. In more detail, the following position        heavy chain framework region is mutated at one, more or all of        the following positions can be mutated: A9, E13, M20, K38, R40,        A72, S76, Q82, G85, T87, S91 and S113. These variants show the        same or very similar biological activity and efficacy as        compared to DI17E6 defined by its sequences above.    -   In general, the invention as described includes also        modifications and variants of the DI17E6 antibody that are        functionally and/or pharmaceutically identical or similar to        unmodified DI17E6, and wherein the CDR regions and heavy and        light chain variable regions are at least 80%, or at least 85%,        or at least 90%, or at least 95% identical in their amino acid        sequence compared to the respective variable regions of DI17E6.        In addition, the invention also includes modifications and        variants of the DI17E6 antibody that are functionally and/or        pharmaceutically identical or similar to unmodified DI17E6, and        wherein the constant regions are at least 80%, or at least 85%,        or at least 90%, or at least 98% identical in their amino acid        sequence compared to the respective constant regions of DI17E6.        Changes is the constant regions of the IgG chains of the        antibody may improve specific properties like immunogenicity,        ADCC, and so on.    -   Thus, for use according the invention, also functional        derivatives, biologically active variants or modifications of        DI17E6 can be employed.    -   Accordingly, in the context of the present invention, the terms        “Abituzumab” and/or “DI17E6” preferably also comprise:    -   a biologically active variant or modification thereof that        comprises the CDR regions and heavy and light chain variable        regions, which are 80%-95% identical in amino acid sequence        compared to the variable regions of Abituzumab;    -   a biologically active variant or modification that comprises a        constant region, which is at least 80%-98% identical with the        amino acid sequence compared to the constant region of        Abituzumab;    -   an antibody that comprises one or more modifications within the        heavy chain framework regions

(SEQ ID No. 27) FR1: QVQLQQSG

ELA

PGASVK

SCKASGYTFS (SEQ ID No. 28) FR2: WV

Q

PGQGLEWIG (SEQ ID No. 29) FR3: KATMT

DTS

STAYM

LS

L

SED

AVYYCAS (SEQ ID No. 30) FR4: WGQGT

VTVSS,

-   -   wherein one or more of the bold and underlined positions are        mutated and are different compared to the original respective        sequence of abituzumab;    -   and/or    -   a modified DI17E6 antibody comprising a human IgG1 constant        region instead of human IgG2, or a human IgG2 hinge region        instead of the human IgG1 hinge.

Intetumumab or CNTO-95 is a human monoclonal antibody, preferably usedin the treatment of solid tumors. It is also an anti-αv integrinantibody, which is preferably comprising human heavy chain and humanlight chain variable regions comprising the amino acid sequences asshown in SEQ ID NO: 8 and SEQ ID NO: 9, respectively, as shown below:

SEQ ID NO: 8       8       119       PRT       Artificial Sequence      Sequence 7 from U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,142       8Gln Val Gln Leu Val Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Val Val Gln Pro Gly Arg1               5                   10                  15Ser Arg Arg Leu Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Arg Tyr            20                  25                  30Thr Met His Trp Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val        35                  40                  45Ala Val Ile Ser Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Lys Tyr Tyr Val Asp Ser Val    50                  55                  60Lys Gly Arg Phe Thr Ile Ser Arg Asp Asn Ser Glu Asn Thr Leu Tyr65                   70                 75                  80Leu Gln Val Asn Ile Leu Arg Ala Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys                85                  90                  95Ala Arg Glu Ala Arg Gly Ser Tyr Ala Phe Asp Ile Trp Gly Gln Gly            100                 105                 110Thr Met Val Thr Val Ser Ser         115 SEQ ID NO: 9       9       108      PRT       Artificial Sequence      Sequence 8 from U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,142       9Glu Ile Val Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Leu Ser Pro Gly1               5                   10                  15Glu Arg Ala Thr Leu Ser Cys Arg Ala Ser Gln Ser Val Ser Ser Tyr            20                  25                  30Leu Ala Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Gln Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu Ile        35                  40                  45Tyr Asp Ala Ser Asn Arg Ala Thr Gly Ile Pro Ala Arg Phe Ser Gly    50                  55                  60Ser Gly Ser Gly Thr Asp Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser Leu Glu Pro65                  70                  75                  80Glu Asp Phe Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Gln Gln Arg Ser Asn Trp Pro Pro                85                  90                  95Phe Thr Phe Gly Pro Gly Thr Lys Val Asp Ile Lys            100                 105 and/or LOCUSABN29020               119 aa linear   PAT 07-FEB-2007 DEFINITIONSequence 7 from U.S. Pat. No. 7163681. ACCESSION ABN29020 VERSIONABN29020.1 GI:125142205 DBSOURCE accession ABN29020.1 KEYWORDS . SOURCEUnknown.   ORGANISM Unknown. Unclassified. REFERENCE1 (residues 1 to 119)   AUTHORS Giles-Komar,J., Snyder,L., Trikha,M. andNakada,M.T.   TITLE Anti-integrin antibodies, compositions,methods and uses JOURNAL Patent: US 7163681-A 7 16 JAN. 2007;Centocor, Inc.; Malvern, PA; US;   REMARK CAMBIA Patent Lens: US 7163681FEATURES          Location/Qualifiers      source          1..119         /organism = ″unknown″ ORIGIN        1 qvqlvesggg vvqpgrsrrl scaasgftfs rytmhwvrqapgkglewvav isfdgsnkyy       61 vdsvkgrfti srdnsently lqvnilraed tavyycareargsyafdiwg qgtmvtvss // LOCUS ABN29021 108 aa linear   PAT 07-FEB-2007DEFINITION Sequence 8 from U.S. Pat. No. 7163681. ACCESSION ABN29021VERSION ABN29021.1 GI:125142207 DBSOURCE accession ABN29021.1 KEYWORDS .SOURCE Unknown.   ORGANISM Unknown. Unclassified. REFERENCE1 (residues 1 to 108)   AUTHORS Giles-Komar,J., Snyder,L., Trikha,M. andNakada,M.T.   TITLE Anti-integrin antibodies, compositions,methods and uses JOURNAL Patent: US 7163681-A 8 16 JAN. 2007;Centocor, Inc.; Malvern, PA; US;   REMARK CAMBIA Patent Lens: US 7163681FEATURES          Location/Qualifiers      source          1..108         /organism = ″unknown″      Region          2..107         /region_name = ″IgV_L_kappa″         /note = ″Immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain, kappa type,         variable (V) domain; cd04980″          /db_xref = ″CDD:143181″     Region          8..100          /region_name = ″IG_like″         /note = ″Immunoglobulin like; smart00410″         /db_xref = ″CDD:214653″      Site         order(12,104,106..107)          /site_type = ″other″         /note = ″intrachain domain interface″         /db_xref = ″CDD:143181″      Site          25..27         /site_type = ″other″          /note = ″L1 hypervariable region″         /db_xref = ″CDD:143181″      Site          order(32,49,93)         /site_type = ″other″          /note = ″antigen binding site         /db_xref = ″CDD:143181″      Site         order(34,36,38,43,46,50,87)          /site_type = ″other″         /note = ″heterodimer interface [polypeptide binding]″         /db_xref = ″CDD:143181″      Site          66..70         /site_type = ″other″          /note = ″L2 hypervariable region″         /db_xref = ″CDD:143181″      Site          order(92..94,96..98)         /site_type = ″other″          /note = ″L3 hypervariable region″         /db_xref = ″CDD:143181″ ORIGIN        1 eivltqspat lslspgerat lscrasqsys sylawyqqkpgqaprlliyd asnratgipa       61 rfsgsgsgtd ftltisslep edfavyycqq rsnwppftfg pgtkvdik //

Intetumumab is further characterised in WO02/12501 and U.S. Pat. No.7,163,681, the disclosure of which is incorporated in their entiretyinto this application by reference.

Preferably, also functional derivatives, biologically active variants ormodifications of Intetumumab can be employed in the instant invention.

For ease of use, the one or more proteins that are preferably active asbiomarkers in the context of the present invention, i.e.

-   -   DCN (Somamer ID: SL004081; UniProt ID: P07585),    -   F5 (Somamer ID: SL000622; UniProt ID: P12259),    -   ICAM3 (Somamer ID: SL003178; UniProt ID: P32942),    -   PIGR (Somamer ID: SL005797; UniProt ID: P01833),    -   STK17B (Somamer ID: SL016566; UniProt ID: 094768),    -   STX1A (Somamer ID: SL004304; UniProt ID: Q16623), and    -   TEK (Somamer ID: SL003200; UniProt ID: Q02763),    -   and/or    -   b) one or more proteins, selected from the group consisting of    -   ANG (Somamer ID: SL000003; UniProt ID: P03950),    -   IL1B (Somamer ID: SL001795; UniProt ID: P01584),    -   LEPR (Somamer ID: SL003184; UniProt ID: P48357),    -   MAP2K2 (Somamer ID: SL010501; UniProt ID: P36507),    -   MAPK11 (Somamer ID: SL007453; UniProt ID: Q15759),    -   RGMB (Somamer ID: SL010468; UniProt ID: Q6NW40), and    -   TNFRSF17 (Somamer ID: SL004672; UniProt ID: Q02223),    -   are preferably also referred to collectively as “specific        proteins” or “said specific proteins” of the present invention,    -   and preferably also referred to individuality as “the specific        protein” or “said specific protein”.

As used herein, the term “sequence homology” is understood by the onesskilled in the art, and methods for determining sequence homology arealso known in the art.

As used herein, sequence homology is preferably determined using theBLAST algorithm. BLAST preferably stands for for Basic Local AlignmentSearch Tool and is an algorithm for comparing primary biologicalsequence information, such as the amino-acid sequences of differentproteins or the nucleotides of DNA sequences. A BLAST search enables aresearcher to compare a query sequence with a library or database ofsequences, and identify library sequences that resemble the querysequence above a certain threshold. The BLAST algorithm and the computerprogram that implements it were developed by Stephen Altschul, WarrenGish, and David Lipman at the U.S. National Center for BiotechnologyInformation (NCBI), Webb Miller at the Pennsylvania State University,and Gene Myers at the University of Arizona. It is available on the webon the NCBI website. Alternative implementations include AB-BLAST(formerly known as WU-BLAST), FSA-BLAST (last updated in 2006), andScalaBLAST.

Different types of BLASTs are available according to the querysequences. For example, following the discovery of a previously unknowngene in the mouse, a scientist will typically perform a BLAST search ofthe human genome to see if humans carry a similar gene; BLAST willidentify sequences in the human genome that resemble the mouse genebased on similarity of sequence. The BLAST algorithm and program weredesigned by Stephen Altschul, Warren Gish, Webb Miller, Eugene Myers,and David J. Lipman at the NIH and was published in the Journal ofMolecular Biology in 1990.

In the context of the present invention, the sequence homology of theproteins described herein is preferably determined on the basis of thelongest local alignments generated using BLASTp.

In the context of the present invention, subjects and especially humansubjects are preferably also referred to as patients.

As used herein, the term “about” with respect to numbers, amounts,dosings, hours, times, timings, durations, and the like, is preferablyunderstood to mean “approximately” with respect to said numbers,amounts, dosings, hours, times, timings, durations, and the like. MorePreferably, the term “about” means+/−10%, more preferably +/−5% of thegiven specific value with respect to numbers, amounts, dosings, hours,times, timings, durations, and the like.

If not specified otherwise, amounts administered to a subject, humansubject or patient given in “mg”, such as in 500 mg, 1000 mg, or thelike, are preferably intended to mean the respective amounts to beadministered “flat”, i.e. as a fixed dose that is not adjusted to thebodyweight and/or body surface of the respective subject, human subjector patient.

If not explicitly indicated otherwise, the term “one or more” as usedherein, e.g. with respect to the number of compounds, agents, cancercotherapeutic agents, cancer chemotherapeutic agents and the like,preferably means “one or more than one” and thus preferably includes“two or more” (or “two or more than two”), “three or more” (or “three ormore than three”) and/or “four more” (or “more or more than four”).Accordingly, the term “one or more” as used herein preferably includesthe numbers one, two, three, four, five, six and/or higher numbers. Withrespect to the number of agents, cancer cotherapeutic agents, cancerchemotherapeutic agents, it especially preferably includes the numbersone, two, three, four and/or five, even more preferably the numbers one,two, three and/or four and especially the numbers one, two and/or three.

Preferably, especially preferred subjects of the instant inventionrelate to aspects, subjects, uses, methods and/or embodiments, whereinone or more features of two or more of the herein described aspects,subjects, uses, methods and/or embodiments are combined in one subject.

The invention is explained in greater detail below by means of examples.The invention can be carried out throughout the range as described andis not restricted to the examples given here.

The following examples are given in order to assist the skilled artisanto better understand the present invention by way of exemplification.The examples are not intended to limit the scope of protection conferredby the description. The features, properties and advantages exemplifiedfor the compounds and uses defined in the examples may be assigned toother compounds and uses not specifically described and/or defined inthe examples, but falling under the scope of the description.

EXPERIMENTAL SECTION Example 1

PERSEUS Phase II Clinical Study

-   -   c) Leuproreline, Leuproreline acetate and/or pharmaceutically        acceptable derivatives and/or salts thereof, in combination with        -   Zoledronic acid and/or pharmaceutically acceptable            derivatives and/or salts thereof

PERSEUS Phase II clinical trial

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, internationalphase II trial, a total of 180 patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive

-   -   a) Standard of Care (SoC), e.g. continuous treatment with a        luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist, preferably        Leuproreline, Leuproreline acetate and/or pharmaceutically        acceptable derivatives and/or salts thereof, and bisphosphonate        treatment, preferably Zoledronic acid and/or pharmaceutically        acceptable derivatives and/or salts thereof, plus placebo,    -   b) abituzumab 750 mg plus SoC, or    -   c) abituzumab 1,500 mg plus SoC.

Pharmacokinetic Analysis

-   -   Equal numbers of patients per arm were included in the        pharmacokinetic analysis subgroup.    -   Blood sampling for pharmacokinetic assessments was scheduled at        various timepoints during cycles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of        therapy.    -   Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated according to standard        non-compartmental methods using the program KINETICA™ v4.1.1        (Innaphase).

Immunogenicity

-   -   Blood sampling for immunogenicity was scheduled pre-dose in        cycles 1, 3, 5 and 6, and at the end-of-treatment visit and        safety follow-up visits.    -   Generation of antibodies directed against abituzumab was        evaluated centrally using a validated ELISA method.

Biomarker Analyses

-   -   Archived tumor blocks or punch biopsy materials were collected        to explore tumor expression of integrins and their ligands as        well as proteins related to angiogenesis and the underlying        disease, and their potential relationship to clinical outcomes.        -   Availability of samples had to be confirmed at patient            screening        -   Analyses were performed using immunohistochemistry.    -   Blood sampling for plasma protein analyses was scheduled        pre-treatment.    -   Plasma protein analyses (based on highly protein-specific        aptamers [SomaLogic system]) were performed on samples taken        from 150 patients prior to treatment in cycle 1        -   The original set of simultaneously determined 1,129 plasma            protein levels was restricted to 888 proteins on the data            level to αvoid potential bias due to cell lysis or platelet            activation during plasma preparation        -   Nine global biomarker search analyses were carried out using            different normalization procedure, data sets and biomarker            dichotomization thresholds, with the aim of filtering            biomarker proteins based on data robustness independent of            biological annotations. The search process comprised a set            of criteria ensuring that identified proteins are            significantly (p<0.05) associated with outcome (here            exemplary radiologic PFS) for either the patients with low            or high levels. These tests comprise, among others, logrank            tests for differences in survival (here PFS) for            Abituzumab-treated/untreated patients in the biomarker-low            and biomarker-high groups according to th median threshold,            tests for an interaction effect on outcome (here PFS)            between continuous marker levels and treatment based on Cox            regression models.        -   This process identified 15 biomarker plasma proteins: DCN            (Somamer ID: SL004081; UniProt ID: P07585),    -   F5 (Somamer ID: SL000622; UniProt ID: P12259),    -   ICAM3 (Somamer ID: SL003178; UniProt ID: P32942),    -   PIGR (Somamer ID: SL005797; UniProt ID: P01833),    -   STK17B (Somamer ID: SL016566; UniProt ID: 094768),    -   STX1A (Somamer ID: SL004304; UniProt ID: Q16623),    -   TEK (Somamer ID: SL003200; UniProt ID: Q02763),    -   ANG (Somamer ID: SL000003; UniProt ID: P03950),    -   IL1B (Somamer ID: SL001795; UniProt ID: P01584),    -   LEPR (Somamer ID: SL003184; UniProt ID: P48357),    -   MAP2K2 (Somamer ID: SL010501; UniProt ID: P36507),    -   MAPK11 (Somamer ID: SL007453; UniProt ID: Q15759),    -   RGMB (Somamer ID: SL010468; UniProt ID: Q6NW40), and    -   TNFRSF17 (Somamer ID: SL004672; UniProt ID: Q02223)

Results

Biomarker analyses

-   -   IHC analysis of tumor samples has not identified any relevant        biomarkers to date.    -   The details documenting why the 14 biomarker plasma proteins        identified are judged as active and whether levels above or        below the median are judged as predictive are shown in Table 1,        Table 2 and/or one or more of FIGS. 1 to 24 .        -   The biomarker proteins include decorin (DCN), a protein            known to have a role in TGF-β biology, as do some of the αv            integrins inhibited by abituzumab        -   Furthermore, analysis of the biological context of other            markers indicated that markers related to known molecular            interactions of abituzumab (bone metabolism modulation and            angiogenesis) appeared to predict OS with abituzumab            therapy.    -   Plasma levels of some of the identified 14 biomarker plasma        proteins were prognostic under SoC of either good or poor        survival and all 14 predicted increased survival with abituzumab        compared to SoC alone. Table 1, Table 2 and/or one or more of        FIGS. 1 to 24 show the prognostic and predictive value of the        identified 14 predictive marker proteins, as for example TEK,        for PFS.

Example 2

Proteomic Affinity Assay Method

All steps of the proteomic affinity assay are performed at roomtemperature unless otherwise indicated.

Sample Thawing and Plating.

Aliquots of 100% serum or EDTA-plasma, stored at −80° C., are thawed byincubating in a 25° C. water bath for ten minutes. After thawing thesamples are stored on ice during mixing and prior to sample dilution.Samples are mixed by gentle vortexing (setting #4 on Vortex Genie,Scientific Industries) for 8 seconds. A 20% sample solution is preparedby transferring 16 μL of thawed sample into 96-well plates (HybaidOmnitube 0.3 mL, ThermoFisher Scientific) containing 64 μL per well ofthe appropriate sample diluent at 4° C. Sample diluent for serum is0.8×SB17 with 0.6 mM MgCl₂, 2 mM EGTA, 2 μM Z-Block_2, 0.05% Tween andfor EDTA-plasma is 0.8×SB18 with 0.8 mM MgCl₂, 2 mM EGTA, 2 μMZ-Block_2, 0.05% Tween. This plate is stored on ice until the nextsample dilution steps are initiated.

Preparation of 10%, 1% and 0.03% SOMAmer Solutions. SOMAmers are groupedinto three unique mixes. The placing of a SOMAmer within a mix isempirically determined by assaying a dilution series of serum or plasmawith each SOMAmer and identifying the sample dilution that gave thelargest linear range of signal. The segregation of SOMAmers and mixingwith different dilutions of sample (10%, 1% or 0.03%) allow the assay tospan a 10⁷-fold range of protein concentration. The composition of thecustom SOMAmer mixes is slightly different between plasma and serum asexpected due to variation in protein composition of these two media. Thecustom stock SOMAmer solutions for 10%, 1% and 0.03% serum and plasmaare prepared and stored at 8× concentration in SB17T. For each assayrun, the three 8×SOMAmer solutions are diluted separately 1:4 into SB17Tto achieve 2× concentration. Each diluted SOMAmer master mix is heatedto 95° C. for five minutes and then to 37° C. for 15 minutes. 55 μL ofeach 2×SOMAmer mix is manually pipetted into a 96-well plate resultingin three plates with 10%, 1% or 0.03% SOMAmer mixes. After mixing withsample, the final individual SOMAmer concentration ranged from 0.25-4 nMfor serum, 0.5 nM for plasma.

Equilibration. A 2% sample plate is prepared by diluting the 20% sample1:10 into SB17T using the Beckman Coulter Biomek Fx^(P) (BeckmanCoulter). A 0.06% sample plate is prepared by diluting the 2% sampleplate 1:31 into SB17T. The three sample dilutions are then transferredto their respective SOMAmer solutions by adding 55 μL of the sample to55 μL of the appropriate 2×SOMAmer mix. The plates are sealed with afoil seal (Microseal ‘F’ Foil, Bio-Rad) and incubated at 37° C. for 3.5hours.

Preparation of Catch-1 Bead Plates. 133.3 μL of a 7.5%Streptavidin-agarose bead slurry in SB17T is added to each well of threepre-washed 0.45 um filter plates. Each well of beads is washed once with200 μL SB17T using vacuum filtration to remove the wash and thenresuspended in 200 μL SB17T.

Catch-1 Bead Capture. All subsequent steps are performed by the BeckmanCoulter Biomek Fx^(P) robot unless otherwise noted. After the 3.5 hourequilibration, 100 μL of the 10%, 1% and 0.03% equilibration bindingreactions is transferred to their respective Catch-1 Streptavidinagarose filter plates and incubated with shaking for ten minutes.Unbound solution is removed via vacuum filtration. Each set of Catch-1beads is washed with 190 μL of 100 μM biotin in SB17T and then 190 mL ofSB17T using vacuum filtration to remove the wash. 190 μL SB17T is addedto each well in the Catch-1 plates and incubated with shaking for tenminutes at 25° C. The wash is removed via vacuum filtration and thebottom of the filter plates blotted to remove droplets using the on-deckblot station.

Biotinylation of Proteins. An aliquot of 100 mM NHS-PEO4-biotin in DMSOis thawed at 37° C. for six minutes and diluted to 1 mM with SB17T at pH7.25. 100 μL of the NHSPEO4-biotin is added to each well of each Catch-1filter plate and incubated with shaking for five minutes. Eachbiotinylation reaction is quenched by adding 150 μL of 20 mM glycine inSB17T to the Catch-1 plates with the NHS-PEO4-biotin. Plates areincubated for one minute with shaking, vacuum filtrated, and 190 μL 20mM glycine SB17T is added to each well in the plate. The plates areincubated for one minute, shaking before removal by vacuum filtration.190 μL of SB17T is added to each well and removed by vacuum filtration.The wells of the Catch-1 plates are subsequently washed three times byadding 190 μL SB17T, incubating for one minute with shaking followed byvacuum filtration. After the last wash the plates are centrifuged at1000 rpm for one minute over a 1 mL deep-well plate to remove extraneousvolume before elution. Centrifugation is performed off deck.

Kinetic Challenge and Photo-Cleavage. 85 μL of 10 mM dextran sulfate inSB17T is added to each well of the filter plates. The filter plates areplaced onto a Thermal Shaker (Eppendorf) under a BlackRay light sourceand irradiated for ten minutes with shaking. The photo-cleaved solutionsare sequentially eluted from each Catch-1 plate into a common deep wellplate by centrifugation at 1000 rpm for one minute each.

Catch-2 Bead Capture. In bulk, MyOne-Streptavidin C1 beads are washedtwo times for 5 minutes each with equal volume of 20 mM NaOH and threetimes with an equal volume of SB17T. Beads are resuspended in SB17T to aconcentration of 10 mg/mL. After resuspension, 50 μL of this solution ismanually pipetted into each well of a 96-well plate and stored at 4° C.until Catch-2. During Catch-2, the wash supernatant is removed viamagnetic separation. All of the photo-cleaved eluate is pipetted ontothe MyOne magnetic beads and incubated with shaking at 25° C. for fiveminutes. The supernatant is removed from the MyOne beads via magneticseparation and 75 μL of SB17T is transferred to each well. The plate ismixed for one minute at 37° C. with shaking and then 75 μL of 60%glycerol (in SB17T) at 37° C. is transferred to each well. The plate ismixed for another minute at 37° C. with shaking. The wash is removed viamagnetic separation. These washes are repeated two more times. Afterremoval of the third glycerol wash from the MyOne beads, 150 μL of SB17Tis added to each well and the plates incubated at 37° C. with shakingfor one minute before removal by magnetic separation. The MyOne beadsare washed a final time using 150 μL SB19T with incubation for oneminute, prior to magnetic separation.

Catch-2 Bead Elution and Neutralization.

SOMAmers are eluted from MyOne beads by incubating each well of beadswith 105 μL of 100 mM CAPSO pH 10, 1 M NaCl, 0.05% Tween with shakingfor five minutes. 90 μL of each eluate is transferred during magneticseparation to a new 96-well plate containing 10 μL of 500 mM HCl, 500 mMHEPES, 0.05% Tween-20, pH 7.5.

Hybridization. 20 μL of each neutralized Catch-2 eluate is transferredto a new 96-well plate and 5 μL of 10× Agilent Block (OligoaCGH/ChIP-on-chip Hybridization Kit, Large Volume, Agilent Technologies5188-5380), containing a 10× spike of hybridization controls (10 Cy3SOMAmers) is added to each well. After removing the plate from therobot, 25 μL of 2× Agilent Hybridization buffer (Oligo aCGH/ChIP-on-chipHybridization Kit, Agilent Technologies) is manually pipetted to theeach well of the plate containing the neutralized samples and blockingbuffer. 40 μL of this solution is manually pipetted into each “well” ofthe hybridization gasket slide (Hybridization Gasket Slide—8 microarraysper slide format, Agilent Technologies). Custom Agilent microarrayslides containing 10 probes per array complementary to 40 nucleotideselected region of each SOMAmer with a 20×dT linker are placed onto thegasket slides according to the manufacturer's protocol. Each assembly(Hybridization Chamber Kit-SureHyb enabled, Agilent Technologies) istightly clamped and loaded into a hybridization oven for 19 hours at 60°C. rotating at 20 rpm. Post-Hybridization Washing. Approximately 400 mLWash Buffer 1 (Oligo aCGH/ChIP-on-chip Wash Buffer 1, AgilentTechnologies) is placed into each of two separate glass staining dishes.Six of the twelve slide/gasket assemblies are sequentially disassembledinto the first staining dish containing Wash Buffer 1.

Once disassembled, the slide is quickly transferred into a slide rack ina second staining dish containing Wash Buffer 1. The slides areincubated for five minutes in Wash Buffer 1 with mixing via magneticstir bar. The slide rack is then transferred to the 37° C. Wash Buffer 2(Oligo aCGH/ChIP-onchip Wash Buffer 2, Agilent Technologies) and allowedto incubate for five minutes with stirring. The slide rack istransferred to a fourth staining dish containing acetonitrile andincubated for five minutes with stirring.

Microarray Imaging. The microarray slides are imaged with a microarrayscanner (Agilent G2565CA Microarray Scanner System, AgilentTechnologies) in the Cy3-channel at 5 μm resolution at 100% PMT settingand the XRD option enabled at 0.05. The resulting tiff images areprocessed using Agilent feature extraction software version 10.5.1.1with the GE1_105_Dec08 protocol.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of treating a bone metastasisdisease in a subject, wherein said subject is characterized by: a) ahigh level of a protein in at least one body fluid of said subject,wherein said protein is ICAM3; and/or b) a low level of one or moreproteins in at least one body fluid of said subject, wherein said one ormore proteins are selected from the group consisting of: MAP2K2, andMAPK11; said method comprising: administering to said subject at leastone pan αv integrin inhibitor, wherein said at least one pan αv integrininhibitor comprises Abituzumab and/or Intetumumab; wherein a level of aspecific protein of said one or more proteins in at least one body fluidof said subject is a) classified as high, if the level of the specificprotein of said one or more proteins in said body fluid is at least 2%higher than a median threshold determined for the specific protein,and/or b) classified as low, if the level of the specific protein ofsaid one or more proteins in said body fluid is at least 2% lower thansaid median threshold fir the specific protein; and wherein a thresholdor median threshold for the specific protein is determined from the bodyfluid of a plurality of subjects being part of a diseased subjectpopulation suffering from the bone metastasis disease.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said at least one pan αv integrininhibitor comprises Abituzumab or consists of Abituzumab.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said at least one pan αv integrininhibitor comprises Intetumumab or consists of Intetumumab.
 4. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said subject is additionallycharacterized by a high level of the protein STX1A; and/or a proteinhaving at least 80% sequence homology to said protein.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said subject is characterized by therespective levels of one or more proteins having at least 80% sequencehomology to said one or more proteins.
 6. The method according to claim1, wherein said body fluid is selected from the group consisting ofblood plasma, blood serum, and whole blood.
 7. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said high levels and/or low levels of one or more ofsaid proteins are present and/or determined prior to administering saidat least one pan αv integrin inhibitor.
 8. The method according to claim1, wherein said high levels and/or low levels of one or more of saidproteins are present and/or determined during or after administeringsaid at least one pan (Iv integrin inhibitor.
 9. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the bone metastasis disease is cancer or is derivedfrom cancer.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bonemetastasis disease is derived from prostate cancer, breast cancer and/orlung cancer.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at leastone pan civ integrin inhibitor is administered to said subject in anamount of 100 mg to 3000 mg per month.
 12. The method according to claim1, wherein said at least one pan civ integrin inhibitor comprises or isAbituzumab, and wherein the Abituzumab is administered to said subjectin an amount of 500 to 2000 mg every week, every second week or everyfourth week.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at leastone pan cry integrin inhibitor comprises or is Abituzumab, and whereinthe Abituzumab is administered to said subject in an amount of about 500mg per week, about 750 mg per week, about 1000 mg per week or about 1500mg per week.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at leastone pan cmv integrin inhibitor is administered in combination with oneor snare agents or chemotherapeutic agents, a) selected from the groupconsisting of Leuproreline, Leuproreline acetate, bicalutamide,nilutamide, triptoreline, gosereline, flutamide, cyproterone, buserelineand degarelix, b) selected from the group consisting of Zoledronic acid,Pamidronic acid, Clodronate disodium, Alendronic acid and ibandronicacid, and; or c) selected from the group consisting of Abiraterone,Abiraterone acetate, Prednisone, Enzalutamide, Radium Ra 223 dichloride,Docetaxel, Sipuleucel-T, Cabazitaxel and Mitoxantrone; and/or thepharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and/or salts thereof.
 15. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said at least one pan αv integrininhibitor is administered in combination with, or additionally incombination with, one or more chemotherapeutic agents, selected from thegroup consisting of cetuximab, Panitumumab, irinotecan, vinorelbine,capecitabine, leucovorine, oxaliplatin cisplatin, carboplatin,5-fluorouracil (5-FU), bevacizumab, aflibercept and regorafenib.
 16. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said at least one pan αv integrininhibitor is administered in combination with one or more agents orchemotherapeutic agents, selected from the group consisting of a)Leuproreline, Leuproreline acetate, bicalutamid, nilutamide,triptoreline, gosereline, flutamide, cyproterone, busereline anddegarelix, and/or the pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and/orsalts thereof; and/or b) Zoledronic acid, Pamidronic acid, Clodronatedisodium, Alendronic acid and Ibandronic acid, and/or thepharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and/or salts thereof.